Seattle Seahawks running back C.J. Prosise runs the ball during the first half of an NFL football game against the Buffalo Bills at CenturyLink Field on Nov. 7, 2016.

Seattle Seahawks running back C.J. Prosise runs the ball during the first half of an NFL football game against the Buffalo Bills at CenturyLink Field on Nov. 7, 2016.

Photo: GRANT HINDSLEY, SEATTLEPI.COM

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NEW ORLEANS, LA - OCTOBER 30: C.J. Prosise #22 of the Seattle Seahawks runs the ball during a game against the New Orleans Saints at the Mercedes-Benz Superdome on October 30, 2016 in New Orleans, Louisiana. (Photo by Sean Gardner/Getty Images)

NEW ORLEANS, LA - OCTOBER 30: C.J. Prosise #22 of the Seattle Seahawks runs the ball during a game against the New Orleans Saints at the Mercedes-Benz Superdome on October 30, 2016 in New Orleans, Louisiana.

Seattle Seahawks running back C.J. Prosise takes part in warmups before a preseason NFL football game against the Dallas Cowboys, Thursday, Aug. 25, 2016, in Seattle. (AP Photo/Elaine Thompson)

Seattle Seahawks running back C.J. Prosise takes part in warmups before a preseason NFL football game against the Dallas Cowboys, Thursday, Aug. 25, 2016, in Seattle. (AP Photo/Elaine Thompson)

Photo: Elaine Thompson/AP

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Seattle's C.J. Prosise stands on the sideline during the third quarter of the pre-season game between the Seahawks and the Dallas Cowboys, Thursday, Aug. 25, 2016 at CenturyLink Field. Seattle won 27-17.

Seattle's C.J. Prosise stands on the sideline during the third quarter of the pre-season game between the Seahawks and the Dallas Cowboys, Thursday, Aug. 25, 2016 at CenturyLink Field. Seattle won 27-17.

Photo: GENNA MARTIN, SEATTLEPI.COM

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Seahawks RB C.J. Prosise to return to practice

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The Seahawks could get another boost to a running game coming off of one of its best performances of the season when they take on the Atlanta Falcons in the NFC divisional-round playoffs on Saturday.

Carroll told hosts Mike Salk and Brock Huard that the 2016 third-round pick's availability would be evaluated on a day-to-day basis as they see how he responds to getting back to practice.

"We would love to have him back and we're ready to go," Carroll said. "We'll have no problem fitting him in, and we'll look forward to that opportunity. But we can't get distracted by that because we don't know what's going to happen by Saturday.

Prosise came to Seattle with great expectations and a readymade role as a third-down back, but injuries derailed most of his rookie season. A hip flexor problem cost him all of organized team activities (OTAs) in the spring, then a hamstring injury knocked him out for most of training camp. He got on the field for the Seahawks' regular-season opener versus the Miami Dolphins only to suffer a wrist/hand injury that cost him the next four games.

The 6-foot-1, 220-pounder, who converted to running back from wide receiver before his final college season at Notre Dame, saw limited action in Seattle's Week 7 tie with the Arizona Cardinals before playing 23 snaps versus New Orleans in Week 8, racking up 103 total yards on just eight touches.

He broke out in Seattle's Week 10 win over the New England Patriots, racking up 153 yards from scrimmage (66 rushing, 87 receiving) on 24 touches. He then reeled off his most explosive run of the season the next week against Philadelphia, scoring on a 72-yard first-quarter run before leaving the game with the shoulder injury.

Prosise's potential return comes at a good time for a Seattle ground game that's been uncharacteristically ineffective in 2016. The Seahawks rushed for 177 yards against the Detroit Lions in Saturday's 26-6 wild-card win, a mark which surpassed all but one single-game total from the 2016 regular season, with second-year running back Thomas Rawls -- also beset by injuries in 2016 -- setting a postseason franchise record with 161 rushing yards and a touchdown on 27 carries.

In addition to Prosise, fullback Marcel Reece and defensive tackle Tony McDaniel are the only injury concerns for Seattle versus the Falcons. Reece's foot was stepped on late in the victory over Detroit, and though x-rays revealed no broken bones, his availability for Saturday's game in Atlanta is unknown. McDaniel is attempting to recover from a concussion that kept him out of the wild-card win over the Lions.